the queen of hearts-第38节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the slain man； for the express purpose of recovering his remains；
and I wish to see the paper found on the body； because I believe
that paper will identify it to the satisfaction of the relative
to whom I have referred。 Do you find my reply sufficiently
straightforward？ And do you mean to give me permission to look at
the paper？〃
〃I am satisfied with your reply； and see no reason for refusing
you a sight of the paper；〃 said the father superior； 〃but I have
something to say first。 In speaking of the impression produced on
you by beholding the corpse； you used the words 'disgust' and
'horror。' This license of expression in relation to what you have
seen in the precincts of a convent proves to me that you are out
of the pale of the Holy Catholic Church。 You have no right；
therefore； to expect any explanation； but I will give you one；
nevertheless； as a favor。 The slain man died； unabsolved； in the
commission of mortal sin。 We infer so much from the paper which
we found on his body； and we know； by the evidence of our own
eyes and ears； that he was killed on the territories of the
Church； and in the act of committing direct violation of those
special laws against the crime of dueling； the strict enforcement
of which the holy father himself has urged on the faithful
throughout his dominions by letters signed with his own hand。
Inside this convent the ground is consecrated； and we Catholics
are not accustomed to bury the outlaws of our religion； the
enemies of our holy father； and the violators of our most sacred
laws in consecrated ground。 Outside this convent we have no
rights and no power； and； if we had both； we should remember that
we are monks； not grave…diggers； and that the only burial with
which _we_ can have any concern is burial with the prayers of the
Church。 That is all the explanation I think it necessary to give。
Wait for me here； and you shall see the paper。〃 With those words
the father superior left the room as quietly as he had entered
it。
I had hardly time to think over this bitter and ungracious
explanation； and to feel a little piqued by the language and
manner of the person who had given it to me； before the father
superior returned with the paper in his hand。 He placed it before
me on the dresser； and I read； hurriedly traced in pencil； the
following lines：
〃This paper is attached to the body of the late Mr。 Stephen
Monkton； an Englishman of distinction。 He has been shot in a
duel； conducted with perfect gallantry and honor on both sides。
His body is placed at the door of this convent； to receive burial
at the hands of its inmates； the survivors of the encounter being
obliged to separate and secure their safety by immediate flight。
I； the second of the slain man； and the writer of this
explanation； certify； on my word of honor as a gentleman that the
shot which killed my principal on the instant was fired fairly；
in the strictest accordance with the rules laid down beforehand
for the conduct of the duel。
〃（Signed）； F。〃
〃F。〃 I recognized easily enough as the initial letter of
Monsieur Foulon's name； the second of Mr。 Monkton； who had died
of consumption at Paris。
The discovery and the identification were now complete。 Nothing
remained but to break the news to Alfred； and to get permission
to remove the remains in the outhouse。 I began almost to doubt
the evidence of my own senses when I reflected that the
apparently impracticable object with which we had left Naples was
already； by the merest chance； virtually accomplished。
〃The evidence of the paper is decisive；〃 said I； handing it back。
〃There can be no doubt that the remains in the outhouse are the
remains of which we have been in search。 May I inquire if any
obstacles will be thrown in our way should the late Mr。 Monkton's
nephew wish to remove his uncle's body to the family burial…place
in England？〃
〃Where is this nephew？〃 asked the father superior。
〃He is now awaiting my return at the town of Fondi。〃
〃Is he in a position to prove his relationship？〃
〃Certainly； he has papers with him which will place it beyond a
doubt。〃
〃Let him satisfy the civil authorities of his claim； and he need
expect no obstacle to his wishes from any one here。〃
I was in no humor for talking a moment longer with my
sour…tempered companion than I could help。 The day was wearing on
me fast； and； whether night overtook me or not； I was resolved
never to stop on my return till I got back to Fondi。 Accordingly；
after telling the father superior that he might expect to hear
from me again immediately； I made my bow and hastened out of the
sacristy。
At the convent gate stood my old friend with the tin snuff…box；
waiting to let me out。
〃Bless you； may son；〃 said the venerable recluse； giving me a
farewell pat on the shoulder； 〃come back soon to your spiritual
father who loves you； and amiably favor him with another tiny；
tiny pinch of the delectable snuff。〃
CHAPTER VI。
I RETURNED at the top of my speed to the village where I had left
the mules； had the animals saddled immediately； and succeeded in
getting back to Fondi a little before sunset。
While ascending the stairs of our hotel； I suffered under the
most painful uncertainty as to how I should best communicate the
news of my discovery to Alfred。 If I could not succeed in
preparing him properly for my tidings； the results； with such an
organization as his； might be fatal。 On opening the door of his
room； I felt by no means sure of myself； and when I confronted
him； his manner of receiving me took me so much by surprise that；
for a moment or two； I lost my self…possession altogether。
Every trace of the lethargy in which he was sunk when I had last
seen him had disappeared。 His eyes were bright； his cheeks deeply
flushed。 As I entered； he started up； and refused my offered
hand。
〃You have not treated me like a friend；〃 he said； passionately；
〃you had no right to continue the search unless I searched with
youyou had no right to leave me here alone。 I was wrong to
trust you； you are no better than all the rest of them。〃
I had by this time recovered a little from my first astonishment；
and was able to reply before he could say anything more。 It was
quite useless； in his present state； to reason with him or to
defend myself。 I determined to risk everything； and break my news
to him at once。
〃You will treat me more justly； Monkton； when you know that I
have been doing you good service during my absence；〃 I said。
〃Unless I am greatly mistaken； the object for which we have left
Naples may be nearer attainment by both of us than〃
The flush left his cheeks almost in an instant。 Some expression
in my face； or some tone in my voice； of which I was not
conscious； had revealed to his nervously…quickened perception
more than I had intended that he should know at first。 His eyes
fixed themselves intently on mine； his hand grasped my arm； and
he said to me in an eager whisper：
〃Tell me the truth at once。 Have you found him？〃
It was too late to hesitate。 I answered in the affirmative。
〃Buried or unburied？〃
His voice rose abruptly as he put the question； and his
unoccupied hand fastened on my other arm。
〃Unburied。〃
I had hardly uttered the word before the blood flew back into his
cheeks； his eyes flashed again as they looked into mine； and he
burst into a fit of triumphant laughter； which shocked and
startled me inexpressibly。
〃What did I tell you？ What do you say to the old prophecy now？〃
he cried； dropping his hold on my arms； and pacing backward and
forward in the room。 〃Own you were wrong。 Own it； as all Naples
shall own it； when once I have got him safe in his coffin！〃
His laughter grew more and mere violent。 I tried to quiet him in
vain。 His servant and the landlord of the inn entered the room；
but they only added fuel to the fire； and I made them go out
again。 As I shut the door on them； I observed lying on a table
near at hand the packet of letters from Miss Elmslie； which my
unhappy friend preserved with such care； and read and re…read
with such unfailing devotion。 Looking toward me just when I
passed by the table； the letters caught his eye。 The new hope for
the future； in connection with the writer of them； which my news
was already awakening in his heart； seemed to overwhelm him in an
instant at sight of the treasured memorials that reminded him of
his betrothed wife。 His laughter ceased； his face changed； he ran
to the table； caught the letters up in his hand； looked from them
to me for one moment with an altered expression which went to my
heart； then sank down on his knees at the table； laid his face on
the letters； and burst into tears。 I let the new emotion have its
way uninterruptedly； and quitted the room without saying a word。
When I returned after a lapse of some little time； I found him
sitting quietly in his chair； reading one of the letters from the
pack et which rested on his knee。
His look was kindness itself； his gesture almost womanly in its
gentleness as he rose to meet me； and anxiously held out his
hand。
He was quite calm enough now to hear in detail all that I had to
tell him。 I suppressed nothing but the particu
